Frome Musical Theatre Company to celebrate 40 years of panto (oh yes they are!)

Frome Musical Theatre Company is celebrating 40 years of bringing audiences knee-slapping pantomime fun.

“FMTC are delighted to be celebrating 40 years of Pantomime in Frome,” said Sarah Bolton. “In 1978/79 the company made the decision to put on a pantomime over Christmas and the New Year and performed Jack and the Beanstalk, directed by Cyril and Audrey Gates from Bath. 

“Our performances have grown from six in those early days, to the eight we now perform in order to meet demand. We are proud to say that there are a number of members involved today in some way or other who were in that first one 40 years ago. Most notably Humphrey Barnes, now President of FMTC, loved by Frome audiences for his memorable portrayal of the various pantomime Dames and ‘Silly Billy’ characters and Gill Barnes, who played the Witch in that first pantomime and went on to direct and choreograph pantomimes for over 20 years.

“Over the past 40 years we have performed Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose, Dick Whittington, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Wizard of Oz, Puss in Boots, Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood, many of them more than once and some, the more popular ones, three or four times. In addition to the pantomimes, we also performed Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the late 80s and early 90s for charity.

“FMTC has always maintained that pantomime should be a family affair suitable for children and their grandparents alike. We are delighted that our audiences continue to increase and we ‘sell out’ over 4,000 seats earlier each year. 

“For those of us in pantomime Christmas isn’t Christmas unless you’re involved in Panto!”

Frome Musical Theatre Company is renowned for being one of the most professional pantomime productions in the area, with local audiences choosing them over Bath & Bristol, this year will be no exception!

This year to mark 40 years of panto, the company is bringing the traditional family pantomime, Aladdin, to the stage. Full of Eastern promise, this classic ‘rags to riches’ tale of Aladdin is packed with adventure, fun and of course, a little magic while staying true to the spirit of the traditional story. 

With last year’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk selling out before Christmas, early booking is highly recommended as 75% of tickets are already sold.

Performances at the Frome Memorial Theatre run from Friday 28th December  – Wednesday 2nd January 2019. Evening performances start at 7pm on 28th, 29th and 2nd. Matinee performances start at 2pm on 29th, 30th and 1st and at 4pm on 31st. The morning performance starts at 11am on the 31st. 

Tickets are on sale from the Frome Memorial Theatre box office open Monday – Saturday 9.30-1pm, visit, call 01373 462795 or buy online via www.fmt.website.

Adults – £14, U16 and OAP £12, family ticket £45 (4 tickets no more than 2 adults) group bookings £11 (10+ people available at the box office only).

Check out the new Frome Musical Theatre Company website www.fromemtc.co.uk